Video-on-demand content delivery system for providing video-on-demand services to TV services subscribers

ABSTRACT

A video-on-demand (VOD) content delivery system has a VOD Application Server which manages a database of templates for presentation of video content elements of different selected types categorized in hierarchical order. A web-based Content Management System receives content uploaded online in file formats with metadata for title and topical area, and automatically converts it into video data format compatible with the VOD content delivery system indexed by title and topical area. A User Interface for the system delivers listings data to the viewer&#39;s TV indexed by title and topical area specified by the uploaded metadata.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This U.S. Patent Application is a continuation application and claimsthe benefit of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/978,953,filed on Dec. 22, 2015, of the same inventor and entitled“VIDEO-ON-DEMAND CONTENT DELIVERY METHOD FOR PROVIDING VIDEO-ON-DEMANDSERVICES TO TV SERVICE SUBSCRIBERS”, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/706,721, filed on May 7, 2015, of thesame inventor and entitled “VIDEO-ON-DEMAND CONTENT DELIVERY METHOD FORPROVIDING VIDEO-ON-DEMAND SERVICES TO TV SERVICE SUBSCRIBERS”, issued asU.S. Pat. No. 9,338,511 on May 10, 2016, which is a continuationapplication of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/852,663, filed onAug. 9, 2010, of the same inventor and entitled “SYSTEM FOR ADDING ORUPDATING VIDEO CONTENT FROM INTERNET SOURCES TO EXISTING VIDEO-ON-DEMANDAPPLICATION OF A DIGITAL TV SERVICES PROVIDER SYSTEM”, issued as U.S.Pat. No. 9,078,016 on Jul. 7, 2015, which is a divisional application ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/952,552, filed on Dec. 7, 2007, ofthe same inventor and entitled “SYSTEM FOR MANAGING, CONVERTING, ANDTRANSMITTING VIDEO CONTENT FOR UPLOADING ONLINE TO A DIGITAL TV SERVICESPROVIDER SYSTEM”, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,774,819 on Aug. 10, 2010,which is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/909,192, filed on Jul. 30, 2004, of the same inventor and entitled“SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING, CONVERTING AND DISPLAYING VIDEO CONTENTON A VIDEO-ON-DEMAND PLATFORM, INCLUDING ADS USED FOR DRILL-DOWNNAVIGATION AND CONSUMER-GENERATED CLASSIFIED ADS”, issued as U.S. Pat.No. 7,590,997 on Sep. 15, 2009, each of which is hereby incorporated byreference as if fully set forth herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention generally relates to the provision of interactivetelevision services through cable TV infrastructure, and moreparticularly, to a system and method for managing, converting anddisplaying video content on a video-on-demand platform, andparticularly, advertising displays used for drill-down navigation anddisplays of consumer-generated classified ads on TV.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Cable television (CATV) systems are used to deliver television servicesto a vast majority of TV-viewing homes in the U.S. and othertechnologically advanced countries. The typical CATV system has a cableservice provider head end equipped with video servers to transmit CATVprogram signals through distribution lines to local nodes and from thereto TV subscriber homes. Within the subscriber homes, the CATV programsignals are transmitted to one or more customer-premises TV s which arecoupled to external set-top boxes for channel tuning or are equippedwith internal cable channel tuners.

Current CATV set-top boxes provide various functions for channelswitching and program access between subscribers and the CATV head end.The more advanced digital set-top boxes are individually addressablefrom the CATV head end, and also allow subscribers to input via remotecontrol units their selection inputs for transmission on a back channelof the connecting cable to the CATV head end, thereby enablingsubscribers to access interactive television services and other types ofadvanced digital TV services. A primary type of interactive televisionsystem is referred to generally as a “video-on-demand” (VOD) system,wherein a viewer can enter a selection choice for a video program viathe remote control unit to the set-top box and have the desired videoprogram delivered instantaneously for display on the TV. Such VODapplications can include on-demand movies, documentaries, historicsports events, TV programs, infomercials, advertisements, music videos,short-subjects, and even individual screen displays of information.VOD-based interactive television services generally allow a viewer touse the remote control to cursor through an on-screen menu and selectfrom a variety of titles for stored video programs for individualviewing on demand. Advanced remote control units include button controlswith VCR-like functions that enable the viewer to start, stop, pause,rewind, or replay a selected video program or segment. In the future,VOD-based interactive television services may be integrated with ordelivered with other advanced interactive television services, such aswebpage browsing, e-mail, television purchase (“t-commerce”)transactions, and multimedia delivery.

With the increasing interactive functionality and customer reach ofinteractive television services, advertisers and content providers arefind it increasingly attractive to employ on-demand advertising, programcontent, and TV transactions for home viewers. VOD content deliveryplatforms are being designed to seamlessly and conveniently deliver awide range of types of advertising, content, and transaction services ondemand to home viewers. An example of an advanced VOD delivery platformis the N-Band (TM) system offered by Navic Systems, Inc., d/b/a NavicNetworks, of Needham, Mass. This is an integrated system which providesan application development platform for third party applicationdevelopers to develop new VOD service applications, viewer interfaces,and ancillary interactive services for deployment on VOD channels ofCATV operators in cable service areas throughout the U.S. A detaileddescription of the Navic N-Band system is contained in U.S. patentapplication 2002/066,106, filed on May 30, 2002, which is incorporatedherein by reference.

Advanced digital set-top boxes also have the ability to collect datasuch as a log of channels tuned to and programs watched by the viewer.The set top box can be designed to collect and report this dataautomatically to the cable head end. At the head end location, theviewer data can be aggregated over many users with personallyidentifying data removed, and provided to advertisers and programsponsors for information in designing and targeting new ads and programsfor viewer preferences, thereby resulting in increased viewership,higher viewer impressions per ad or program, and ultimately increasedrevenues.

Current VOD ads and program offerings are generally produced for massaudiences. It would be particularly desirable to adapt a VOD deliveryplatform to deliver ads, promotions, programs, and informational contentby allowing viewers to navigate readily and visually to specific itemsof interest. Such visual navigation for content delivery would be morelikely to create a satisfying viewer experience, and also to engageindividual viewers in on-demand TV services and transactions. It wouldalso be a particularly desirable to adapt a VOD delivery platform toreceive uploads of user ads from individuals such as through an onlinenetwork for search, navigation, and display to TV subscribers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first objective of the present invention, avideo-on-demand (VOD) content delivery system for delivery templatizedVOD content comprises:

-   -   (a) a VOD Application Server located at a Cable Head End which        manages a Database of templates for generating templatized VOD        content in response to requests for specific video content        elements by viewer request signals transmitted from the TV        equipment of a viewer to the Cable Head End;    -   (b) a Video Server for storing video content encoded as video        content elements and for supplying a requested video content        element in response to the VOD Application Server for delivery        to the TV equipment of the viewer; and    -   (c) an Application Data Center for creating and storing a        plurality of different templates ordered in a hierarchy for        presentation of video content elements of different selected        types categorized in hierarchical order, wherein a template for        display of a video content element in a higher level of the        hierarchy includes a link to one or more templates and video        content elements in a lower level of the hierarchy, said        plurality of hierarchically-ordered templates and links being        stored in the Database managed by the VOD Application Server,        and    -   (d) wherein said VOD Application Server, in response to viewer        request for a selected video content element of a higher order        in the hierarchy, retrieves the corresponding template from said        Database and corresponding video content element from said Video        Server to provide a templatized VOD content display on the        viewer's TV equipment which includes one or more links to video        content elements in a lower order of hierarchy, and upon viewer        request selecting a link displayed in the templatized VOD        content to a video content element in the lower order of        hierarchy, retrieves the corresponding template and video        content element of lower order hierarchy for display on the        viewer's TV equipment, thereby enabling the viewer to use        drill-down navigation through TV displays of templatized VOD        content.

In a preferred embodiment of the templatized VOD content deliverysystem, the system employs the templatized content delivery to create aUser Interface for the viewer to navigate through progressively morespecific template (display ad) types linked in series to reach an endsubject of interest to the viewer. Referred to herein as “Drill-DownAds,” the series of progressively more specific display ad types allowthe subscriber to navigate to an end subject of interest while at thesame time having a unique visual experience of moving visually through aseries of ads mirroring the viewer's path to the end subject ofinterest.

As an example involving automobile advertising, the User Interface canprovide a hierarchical ordering of video display ads that starts with anAuto Maker's ad displayed with links to Model ads. The viewer can selectusing the remote control unit a specific Model ad which is displayedwith links to more specific levels of ads, such as “Custom Packages”,“Feature/Options”, or “Color/Styling”, etc., until it reaches an endsubject of interest to the subscriber. The viewer would thus be able tonavigate to specific content of interest while traversing through videoad displays of the Auto Maker, Models, Model A, Features, etc.Similarly, the viewer can navigate to specific content of interest whiletraversing through video ad displays of Local Dealers, Dealer A, CurrentSales Promotions, etc. The templatized VOD ads are generated dynamicallyby searching the VOD Application database with each current request by aviewer. This enables the system to dynamically generate and displayupdated advertising content that remains current. For example, if theAuto Maker changes the Model types available, or if Local Dealer Achanges its current sales promotions, that advertiser's ads can beupdated with new content and selection options on the system database,and the new templatized ads can be generated dynamically, instead of newads having to be filmed, produced, contracted, and installed with thecable TV company. Many other types of ads, subjects, and otherinteractive TV applications can be enabled with the use of theDrill-Down Navigation method. The selections or preferences exhibited byviewer navigation paths through the Drill-Down Navigation can also betracked, profiled, and/or targeted as feedback data to advertisers forfine-tuning Drill-Down ad designs.

In accordance with a second objective of the invention, avideo-on-demand (VOD) content delivery system for managing, convertingand displaying consumer-generated classified ads on TV comprises:

-   -   (a) a Content Management Website for enabling individual users        to upload classified ad content on an online network connection        from their remote computers, said uploaded classified ad content        including associated meta data for identifying the ad content by        title and topical area;    -   (b) a Content Screening Component for receiving the classified        ad content uploaded to the Content Management Website and        screening the content for objectionable text, audio, video        and/or images in the content, and for rejecting said content if        objectionable text, audio, video and/or images are found;    -   (c) a Content Feed Component for automatically transferring the        classified ad content screened by the Content Screening        Component with the associated meta data and supplying them to a        Content Conversion Component;    -   (d) a Content Conversion Component for automatically converting        the transferred classified ad content supplied from the Content        Feed Component into a video data format compatible with the VOD        content delivery system, and for automatically indexing the        converted classified ad content in a Video Server database        according to title and topical area as specified in the content        meta data; and    -   (e) a VOD Application Server, operatively connected between said        Content Conversion Component and a Cable Head End connected via        cable connection to the TV equipment of viewers, for delivering        from the Cable Head End classified ad title and topical area        listings data generated from the meta data for the classified ad        content to be displayed on the TV equipment of viewers to enable        their searching for classified ads of interest and, in response        to a viewer request signal requesting a specific classified ad        of interest transmitted via the TV equipment to the Cable Head        End, for retrieving the requested classified ad from the Video        Server database and transmitting it to be displayed to the        viewer on their TV equipment.

In a preferred embodiment of the TV classified ads system, individualusers can upload classified ad content via their web browser, includingtext, audio, video and/or image files in industry-standard file formats,to the Content Management Website. The Content Screening Component isconfigured to parse the input for objectionable text words in textfiles, detect objectionable audio words in audio files, and opticallyrecognize objectionable images in graphics or video files. The ContentFeed Component automatically transmits classified ad content that hasbeen appropriately contracted for display (paid for, and within thecontracted time period) to the Content Conversion Component and theVideo Server database. The VOD Application Server responds to requestsinput by viewers via remote control and retrieves the requestedclassified ads indexed by their titles and topical areas from the VideoServer database to be displayed on the viewer's TV. The ContentManagement Website can also include functions for: (a) AccountManagement of user transaction accounts; (b) Content Classification tofacilitate user designation of titles and topical areas to uniquely andattractively identify their classified ads; (c) Bulletin Board forcreation and management of consumer-generated content related toannouncements and other items of general interest to be displayed toviewers in subsidiary displays; and (d) Transaction Processing for theprocessing the payment of user fees, changes, and refunds in the use ofthe system.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of theinvention are described in further detail below in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a diagram of an overall architecture for a VOD ContentDelivery System in accordance with the present invention, FIG. 1B showsan example of Drill-Down Ad navigation, and FIG. 1C shows an example ofthe templatized ad display model.

FIG. 2A is a process flow diagram of the overall architecture of aconsumer generated Classified Ad application for the VOD ContentDelivery System, FIG. 2B illustrates a Content Management Website forthe Classified Ad application, FIG. 2C illustrates a Content ScreeningComponent of the system, and FIG. 2D illustrates a Content Feed andConversion Components of the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1A, an overall system architecture for a VOD contentdelivery system includes a VOD Application Server 10 located at a CableHead End. The VOD Application Server 10 manages a Database 11 oftemplates and video content segments from Video Server 12 for generatingtemplatized VOD content. The VOD content is generated in response to aviewer request signal transmitted from the Digital Set Top Box 21 of aviewer's TV equipment through the Digital Cable Television System 13 tothe VOD Application Server 10 at the Cable Head End. The VOD ApplicationServer 10 may be of the type which enables any compatibly-developed VODapplications to be loaded on and operated on the server. An example ofsuch a VOD Application Server is the Navic N-Band(TM) server aspreviously described. Templates for displaying VOD content are createdat an Application Data Center 30 and stored in the Database 11 for useby the operative VOD application. The templates may be designed, forexample, to present video ad content displays in a logo frame, or toprovide navigation buttons and viewer selection options in a framearound currently displayed video content. In the preferred embodimentdescribed in greater detail below, the templates are used to providenavigation aids in a series of progressively more focused ad displaytypes. A Video Content Encoder 31 is used to encode raw video feeds intoformatted video content segments compatible with the VOD platform andsupply them through a Video Content Distribution Network 14 to the VideoServer 12.

In operation, the VOD Application Server 10 operates a VOD applicationfor the CATV system, for example, “automobile infomercials on demand”.The viewer sends a request for selected VOD content, such as to see aninfomercial on a specific model type made by a specific automanufacturer, by actuating a viewer request signal by a key press on theviewer's remote control unit transmitting an IR signal to the Set TopBox 21 that is sent on a back channel of the Digital Cable TelevisionSystem 13 to the VOD Application Server 10 at the Cable Head End. Inresponse to the signal, the VOD Application Server 10 determines the VODcontent being requested and retrieves the infomercial ad displaytemplate from the Template Database 11 and video content segment fromthe Video Server 12, in order to generate the corresponding templatizedVOD content. In the invention, the templates are of different typesordered in a hierarchy, and display of content in a template of a higherorder includes links the viewer can select to content of a lower orderin the hierarchy. Upon selecting a link using the remote control, theVOD Application Server 10 retrieves the template and video content oflower order and displays it to the viewer. Each successive templatizeddisplay may have further links to successively lower levels of contentin the hierarchy, such that the viewer can use the series of linkedtemplatized VOD displays as a “drill-down navigation” method to findspecific end content of interest.

Referring to FIG. 1B, a preferred embodiment of the templatized VODcontent delivery system is shown providing a User Interface usingDrill-Down Navigation through display ads, such as for automobileinfomercials. When the viewer selects a VOD application (channel), suchas “Wheels-On-Demand”, the viewer's TV displays a Main Menu with buttonsinviting the viewer to “Select Category”. The viewer can select an“Auto” category, and the TV then displays an “Auto” menu with buttonsinviting the viewer to “Select Make”, such as Make A, Make B, etc. Whenthe viewer makes a selection, such as Make A, the viewer's TV displays afurther menu that is a Gateway into templatized VOD content deliverywhich enables Drill-Down Navigation by templatized display ads. Throughthe Gateway, the VOD Application leaves the Menu mode and enters theDrill Down Navigation mode for successively displays ofhierarchically-ordered video content which allow the viewer to navigateto progressively more focused content. In this example, the highestlevel of the hierarchy includes categories for Model, Local Dealer,Sales Events, and/or Inventory. When the viewer selects a category suchas “Model” from the Gateway, for example, the VOD Application creates atemplatized ad display showing video content generic to all models bythat automaker framed in a frame which has links (buttons or choices)for a list of the specific models made by that automaker. When theviewer selects the link to a specific model, “Model A” for example, theVOD Application creates a templatized ad display showing video contentfor Model A, and the viewer can then choose to run a long-forminfomercial of the Model A video. Alternatively, the Drill-DownNavigation can continue with further levels of specificity, such as“Custom Packages”, “Options”, “Colors/Stylings”, etc. Similarly, theselection of the “Local Dealer” category from the Gateway can bring up atemplatized ad for local dealers with links to specific local dealers inthe viewer's cable service area, and a click on a specific “Dealer A”can bring up a templatized ad for Dealer A with further links to morespecific content pertaining to Dealer A, such as “Current SalesPromotions”, etc.

In this manner, the templatized VOD content delivery system allows theviewer to navigate to specific content of high interest to the viewerusing the Drill-Down ads as a navigation tool, while at the same timehaving a unique visual experience of moving through a series of adsmirroring the viewer's path to the subject of interest. The templatizedVOD ads are generated dynamically by searching the Content/Templatedatabase with each request by a viewer, enabling the system to displayupdated navigation choices and content simply by updating the databasewith updated links and video content. For example, if the Auto Makerchanges the Model types of autos currently available, or if Local DealerA changes its current sales promotions for autos currently available,that advertiser's ads can be updated with new, template frame navigationlinks and content, instead of entirely new ads or screen displays havingto be shot, produced, contracted, delivered, and programmed with thecable TV company. Many other types of layered or in depth ads, subjects,and interactive TV applications can be enabled with the use of theDrill-Down Navigation method. The selections or preferences exhibited byviewer navigation paths through the Drill-Down Navigation can also betracked, profiled, and/or targeted as feedback data to advertisers forfine-tuning Drill-Down Navigation designs.

In FIG. 1C, an example illustrates how a templatized VOD display isgenerated in layers. A Background screen provides a basic color, logo,or graphical theme to the display. A selected Template (display frame)appropriate to the navigation level the intended display resides on islayered on the Background. The Template typically has a frame in whichdefined areas are reserved for text, display image(s), and navigationlinks (buttons). Finally, the desired content constituted by associatedText, Image & Buttons is retrieved from the database and layered on theTemplate. The resulting screen display shows the combined backgroundlogo or theme, navigation frame, and text, video images, and buttons.

Referring again to FIG. 1A, a Tracking System 15 of conventional typecan be installed at the Cable Head End to aggregate non-personal data onwhat channels and programs viewers watch. For the Drill Down Navigationmethod, the Tracking System 15 can include tracking of the navigationpaths viewers use to find subjects of interest in a VOD Application. Theaggregation of viewer navigation data can indicate what subjects aremost popular, whether some subjects are of greater interest to viewersat certain times of day, of certain demographics, or in relation tocertain products or services. The VOD Application Server 10 can exportthe aggregated viewer navigation data to an external Profiling System16, such as a non-biased or unrelated firm applying profile analysismethods. The results of the Profiling System 16 can be communicated to aTargeting System 17, such as a template design firm or contentproduction company, to fine-tune the presentation of the templatized VODcontent consistent with viewer preferences or interests. The feedbackfrom the Targeting System can be supplied as feedback to the VODApplication Server to modify the Content/Template Database 11.

Another application for the templatized VOD content delivery system canbe developed to support video advertisements which link national tolocal market ad campaigns in “drill-down” fashion. Advertisers, bothnational and local, can pay for placement of their video advertisementson the system. When the VOD Application is run, the national ads aredisplayed as a Gateway to linking to the local market ads. In thismanner, national ads can be used to transition viewers from generalinterest in a product to finding specific information about the productavailable locally.

The templatized VOD content delivery system can also support “trafficbuilding” videos, including music videos, that may not generate directrevenue. Once a video is encoded and registered into the system, themanagement and distribution of the video is conducted through softwaresystems and automated controls. The User Interface provides the userwith the ability to navigate and find desired video content. Selectionof a category presents the user with a list of video titles availablefor playback. Categories and title lists can be generated usingreal-time database queries, allowing for database-driven management ofcontent within the User Interface. The User Interface can also support asearch interface which allows the user to search the video contentdatabase to generate a list of video titles with specificcharacteristics.

The core services and functions of the VOD content delivery system caninclude:

-   Encoding—converts videos to proper digital format for playback on    cable video-on-demand systems, currently MPEG2 format-   Metadata Input—allows for the input of descriptive data regarding    each video-   Packaging—Prepares a data package for transport consisting of the    encoded video file and the metadata-   Scheduling—Establishes the schedule when packages are to be    delivered to cable video-on-demand systems via the transport system-   Transport—Digital broadcast medium through which the packages are    migrated from the central processing facility to the cable    video-on-demand systems.

The core services and functions of the User Interface system caninclude:

-   Development of UI “pages”—An Internet-based system is used for the    composition, coding and quality assurance of the User Interface    images (“pages”) that are presented to the user on an interactive    basis.-   Category and List Presentation—The category lists and title lists    presented to the user for navigation and selection can be generated    and rendered real-time using database queries against the video    metadata database. These lists can also be incorporated in the fully    rendered graphics if real-time queries are not required or desired.-   Distribution—The UI system supports a scheduling and transport    subsystem separate from the video distribution system for the    distribution of the UI assets and related set-top box software    components to local UI servers installed at the cable head end.-   User Input Device—The UI system receives user input and commands    from the IR remote control used with the digital set-top box.-   User Database—The UI system maintains a database of set-top box    addresses that is used to identify the users of the system. This    database is the seed for the Profiling Database system described    below.-   Targeting—The UI system is capable of changing the UI presentation    to a specific user based on the information contained in the User    Database and the Profiling Database.

The core services and functions of the Tracking System can include:

-   Consolidation of Video-On-Demand Data—The Tracking System can be    made capable of ingesting and consolidating usage data provided by    the cable video-on-demand systems. This may be performed through    automated interfaces or “feeds”, or it may be performed through the    batch processing of data files delivered by the cable operators.-   Consolidation of UI Data—The Tracking System can gather and    consolidate data from the UI system on an automated basis. The UI    system can provide data describing the user commands, behaviors,    responses and requests generated by each user while using the User    Interface system.-   Reporting—The Tracking System can generate reports and analyses of    the Video-On-Demand data and the UI data.-   Web Interface—The Tracking System can include a Web interface for    providing authorized users such as advertisers with access to    specific reports.

The core services and functions of the Profiling System can include:

-   Consolidation of Profiling Data—The Profiling System can be made    capable of consolidating on a continuing, automated basis all    user-related data requested by advertisers or by the system    operator.-   Interface to Targeting System—The Profiling System can provide    pertinent data as required by the Targeting System within the UI    system. This data is used to reformat UI presentations based on the    data values.-   Interface to Targeting System—The Profiling System data can be    accessed and incorporated into the Targeting System.-   Support of Private and Public Data—The Profiling System can    segregate and maintain as private any data gathered specifically for    an advertiser for the use of that advertiser.

As another aspect of the present invention, a VOD content deliverysystem may be adapted to offer consumer-generated classified ads on TV.The VOD content delivery system is provided with a Content Managementfrontend to receive consumer input and convert it to video display adsmaintained in the system database. Referring to FIG. 2A, a system formanaging, converting and displaying individual consumer-generated ads ona VOD content delivery system has a Web-based Content Management System40 for enabling an individual user to upload content from their computervia a web browser to display a consumer-generated video ad on TV. Theuploaded content includes meta data for classifying the video ad bytitle and topical area(s). Content Screening System 41 is used forscreening the content input by the individual user, such as byperforming automatic searching for objectionable text, audio, videoand/or images and rejecting the content if found objectionable. AContent Feed System 42 is used to automatically transferconsumer-generated content screened through the Content Screening System41 to a Content Conversion System 43. This system automatically convertsthe consumer-generated content supplied by the Content Feed System 42into video display format compatible with the VOD content deliverysystem. The converted video ad is indexed by title and classifiedtopical areas according to the meta data supplied by the user, inaccordance with the indexing system maintained by the Content ManagementSystem. The VOD Content Delivery System 44 operates a Classified Ads VODApplication in which menus for finding classified ads are navigated byviewers, and specific classified ads are delivered through the DigitalCable Television System for display as video ads on the viewer's TVequipment in response to viewer request input by remote control to theDigital Set Top Box 21, as described previously with respect to theoperation of the general VOD platform.

Referring to FIG. 2B, the Web-based Content Management System 40includes a plurality of functional components to allow consumers tocreate and manage their own classified ads as interactive televisioncontent, as well as pay for the distribution of their content within thedigital cable television system. A Classified Management Application 50is used to receive consumer-input content, have it screened (by theContent Screening System 41, not shown), and store it in the ClassifiedMetadata, Image and Video Database 51. Consumer payment for runningvideo ads is handled by the Transaction Processing Component 53. Alsoincluded in the Content Management System is an Account ManagementComponent 55 and Account & Permissions Database 56 for management ofuser accounts for use of the web-based TV Classified Ads system. ABulletin Board Ads application may be operated in parallel with the TVClassified Ads application. A Bulletin Board Management Application 54and Database 57 enable the creation and management of consumer-generatedcontent relating to public announcements and other items of generalinterest for groups, organizations or topics. The preferred VOD ContentDelivery System uses templatized VOD content, and a Template Library 58is used to store templates for both the Classified Ads and BulletinBoard Ads applications.

The Account Management Component controls the access by persons to theweb-based Content Management System. The Account Management Componentidentifies persons accessing the system for the first time and allowsthese persons to register and create an account by providing an accountname, password, credit card information and other information requiredfor the payment of fees. The Account Management Component controls theaccess by registered users to their accounts and manages the privilegesand security associated to all accounts. Persons may create accounts forthe creation and management of Classified Ads. Accounts capable ofaccessing the Bulletin Board Management Application may also be assignedby a system administrator in the Account Management Component. Anyaccount capable of accessing the Bulletin Board application can thencreate and manage bulletin board ads for the assigned bulletin boards.

The Classified Content Management System enables users to upload text,audio, video, and/or image files for classified ads in industry-standardfile formats and have it converted into video display ads compatiblewith the VOD Content Delivery System. Classified ads are searched on theviewer's TV equipment by menus and lists indexed by title and topicalareas corresponding to the metadata associated with the classified adscontent. Selection of a listed item results in the display of a TVdisplay ad containing uploaded text, images, video and/or audio. Userspay listing fees to the operator of the system for maintaining anddisplaying the classified ads on the digital cable television system.

Significant features of the Classified Ads Content Management Systeminclude: (a) the ability to enter descriptive data and text regardingthe item; (b) uploading digital images of the item to the ContentManagement System; (c) uploading digital video of the item to theContent Management System; (d) uploading digital audio regarding theitem to the Content Management System; (e) automated size and resolutionprocessing of digital images uploaded to the system; (f) automateddigital format conversion of digital video uploaded to the system; (g)automated digital format conversion of digital audio uploaded to thesystem; (h) ability for users to select an interactive television screendesign (template) from a catalog of available templates; (i) ability toview on a web browser the interactive television template containing theconsumer-provided content; (j) ability to save classified content inpersistent memory or storage for subsequent modification; (k) ability tomark classified content as completed and ready for submission to theinteractive television system; (1) ability to specify the date and timewhen a classified content item is to become accessible by users of theinteractive television system and the data and time when a classifiedcontent item is to be removed from display on the interactive televisionsystem; (m) ability to notify the user through email or othercommunication system that a specific content item is scheduled to bedisplayed or removed from the interactive television system; (n) abilityto modify and resubmit previously created classified content for displayon the interactive television system; (o) ability to access viewing datagenerated by the Tracking System regarding access and use of specificconsumer-generated content by users of the interactive televisionsystem; and (p) ability to calculate fees for classified content andsubmit payment of the fees using the Transaction Processing system.

As noted in (i) above, the Classified Content Management System allowsthe user to view the content they have composed using the templates. Thetemplates are designed specifically for use on interactive televisionsystems and the user is able to view on the web-interface their contentas composed for presentation on television. As noted in (j) above, theClassified Content Management System allows the persistent storage ofclassified content; although the user is composing interactivetelevision pages using a template system, the content is persistentlystored as individual elements to simplify changes by the user and toallow the conversion of the content to different formats as required bydifferent interactive television systems.

The Bulletin Board Content Management System provides the users of theweb-based Content Management System with content creation and contentmanagement tools for the creation and maintenance of consumer-generatedcontent related to announcements and other informational items ofgeneral interest. Bulletin Board content is displayed on the interactivetelevision system as dedicated interactive television screens (bulletinboards), where approved groups, organizations or topics are eachassigned a bulletin board for the display of their information. BulletinBoard content is displayed as list items organized within a bulletinboard; selection of a list item results in the display of an interactivetelevision screen containing or providing access to the descriptivedata, text, images, video and audio regarding the item.

An alternative implementation of a Bulletin Board can display thecontent as scrolling text, where the user scrolls through the text, orthe text scrolls automatically. Bulletin Board accounts will pay feesdetermined by the operator of the system for the distribution of thebulletin board content on the interactive television system for displayon the digital cable television system. Significant features of theBulletin Board Content Management System include: (a) the ability toenter descriptive data and text regarding the item; (b) upload digitalimages to the content management; (c) upload digital video to thecontent management system; (d) upload digital audio to the contentmanagement system; (e) automated size and resolution processing ofdigital images uploaded to the system; (f) automated digital formatconversion of digital video uploaded to the system; (g) automateddigital format conversion of digital audio uploaded to the system; (h)ability for users to select an interactive television screen design(template) from a catalog of available templates; (i) ability to view ona web browser the interactive television template containing theconsumer-provided bulletin board content; (j) ability to save bulletinboard content in persistent memory or storage for subsequentmodification; (k) ability to mark bulletin board content as completedand ready for submission to the interactive television system; (l)ability to specify the date and time when specific bulletin boardcontent is to become accessible by users of the interactive televisionsystem and the data and time when specific bulletin board content is tobe removed from display on the interactive television system; (m)ability to notify the user through email or other communication systemthat specific bulletin board content is scheduled to be displayed orremoved from the interactive television system; (n) ability to modifyand resubmit previously created bulletin board content for display onthe interactive television system; (o) ability to access viewing datagenerated by the Tracking System regarding access and use of specificbulletin board content by users of the interactive television system;and (p) ability to calculate fees for bulletin board content and submitpayment of the fees in conjunction with the Transaction Processingcomponent.

The Transaction Processing component allows users of the ClassifiedContent Management System and Bulletin Board Content Management Systemto determine and pay for any fees resulting from their use of thesesystems. The Transaction Processing component will allow users to payfor fees using credit cards or other supported payment methods.Significant features of the Transaction Processing component include:(a) ability to maintain business rules for use by the TransactionProcessing system to determine fees based on user type and content type;(b) ability to maintain business rules for one or more payment methodsfor use by the Transaction Processing system in handling the settlementof fees; (c) ability to maintain business rules for user account andpayment settlement conditions such as delinquency and lack-of-credit foruse by the Transaction Processing system in determining user accountprivileges and content status; and, (d) ability to process payment offees in real-time for payment methods that support real-time settlement.

Referring to FIG. 2C, the Content Screening System (41) is comprised ofa Text Screening Application 60 which searches for objectionable wordsor phrases, an Image Screening Application 61 which searches forobjectionable graphic images, a Video Screening Application 62 whichsearches for objectionable images or audio words or phrases in videosegments, and an Audio Screening Application 63 which searches forobjectionable words or phrases in audio segments. The Content ScreeningSystem can be used for both Classified Ads content and Bulletin Boardcontent. Content that has been screened by the Content Screening Systemis then transferred to the aforementioned Classified Ads Database 51 orthe Bulletin Board Content Database 57. The system also has component 64for Editorial and Customer Service Functions for Classified Ads, andcomponent 65 similarly for Bulletin Board content. These can eachinclude an Email Function to send confirmations of input, reasons forrejection of posting, suggested corrections, further processing, andposting of content to consumers using the system.

Significant features of the Content Screening System include: (a)ability to maintain a library of objectionable or illegal words andphrases for use in the screening of text; (b) ability to performautomated analysis of user content text using the text library as aninput and alert system administration personnel to the use ofobjectionable or illegal content and the use of unknown and suspectwords or phrases; (c) ability to maintain a library of objectionable orillegal image elements for use in the screening of images; (d) abilityto perform automated image recognition analysis against user contentimages using the library of image elements as an input and alert systemadministration personnel to the use of objectionable or illegal content;(e) ability to maintain a library of objectionable or illegal imageelements for use in the screening of video; (f) ability to performautomated image recognition analysis against user content video usingthe library of image elements as an input and alert systemadministration personnel to the use of objectionable or illegal content;(g) ability to maintain a library of objectionable or illegal audioelements for use in the screening of audio; (h) ability to performautomated audio analysis against user content audio using the library ofaudio elements as an input and alert system administration personnel tothe use of objectionable or illegal content; and (i) ability to savescreened content in persistent memory or storage for subsequentprocessing. Content Screening is automatically performed with theContent Management System 40 during the user process of submittingand/or creating consumer-generated content or may be performed as aprocess subsequent to the creation of content by the user.

Referring to FIG. 2D, the Content Feed System 42 and the ContentConversion System 43 provide for the transfer of user content from theContent Screening System and conversion to video content formatcompatible with the VOD Content Delivery System 44. The Content FeedSystem 42 has a Content Selection/Date Filtering Application whichselects consumer-generated content uploaded to the system that is withinthe dates contracted for posting and display of the content asClassified Ads or on Bulletin Boards. Content within the active daterange is transferred to the Active Classified Ads Database 71A or theActive Bulletin Board Database 71B.

The Content Conversion System receives consumer-generated content inindustry standard formats or created in viewable format (HTML) on theweb-based input system and converts the content into formats compatiblewith the VOD Content Delivery System and for display on viewers'televisions. The Content Conversion System 43 has an Image ConversionApplication 72 which converts consumer-uploaded image files (inindustry-standard formats such as JPEG, GIF, TIFF, BMP, PDF, PPT, etc.)into VOD content format, a Video Conversion Application 73 whichconverts consumer-uploaded video files into VOD content format, and anAudio Conversion Application 74 which converts consumer-uploaded audiofiles into VOD content format. Content converted to VOD content formatis stored in the Active Converted Classified Ads Database 75A or theActive Converted Bulletin Board Database 75B. The content is subject toa further Production Push Function 76A, 76B and stored in the ProductionClassified Ads Database 77 A or the Production Bulletin Board Database77B, if any presentation formatting, date stamping, template framing, orother system editing is required by the system.

Significant features of the Content Feed System include: (a) ability toselect user content for submission to the Content Conversion Systemthrough the testing of appropriate parameters including the date andtime information contained in the user content; (b) ability toappropriately package the elements of the user content to permit theefficient transfer of these content elements to the Content ConversionSystem through an Application Program Interface or other interface; (c)ability to create, maintain and execute a schedule for when the ContentFeed System will execute on an automatic basis for the automatictransfer of consumer-generated content to the Content Conversion System;and, (d) ability to execute the functions of the Content Feed System ona manual basis in the presence or absence of a schedule. The ContentFeed System may be able to package and distribute content to single ormultiple Content Conversion Systems.

Significant features of the Content Conversion system include: (a)ability to receive content packages delivered by the Content Feed Systemthrough an Application Program Interface or other interface; (b) abilityto process the elements of consumer-generated content into data, text,graphic, video and audio elements that are compatible with theinteractive television system and maintain the content presentationcreated by the user on the web-based Content Management System; (c)ability to save reformatted content in persistent memory or storage forsubsequent distribution and use by the interactive television system;and, (d) ability to inform the interactive television system thatconsumer-generated content is available for distribution and use. TheContent Conversion System may be added as a component system of the VODContent Delivery System, or it may be implemented as a wholly separatesystem that connects to the VOD Content Delivery System through anApplication Program Interface or other interface. When implemented as asystem that is separate from the VOD Content Delivery System, it ispossible to support multiple, different interactive television systemsby either (a) incorporating multiple formatting requirements into asingle instance of the Content Conversion System or (b) creatingmultiple Content Conversion Systems, each supporting the fomlattingrequirements for a specific interactive television system. Eitherimplementation allows for a single instance of consumer-generatedcontent that is created and maintained using the web-based ContentManagement System to be distributed and displayed on multiple, differentinteractive television systems with different formatting requirements.

The VOD Content Delivery System 44, as described previously, providesfor the distribution of screened, converted, properly formattedconsumer-generated content to viewers' televisions, typically throughthe use of digital set-top boxes connected to a digital cable televisionsystem capable of supporting real-time two-way data transfer between theset-top box and the Cable Head End. Significant features of the VODContent Delivery System include: (a) ability to receive properlyformatted content from the Content Conversion System; (b) ability todistribute said content over a digital cable television system anddisplay this content on television as an interactive televisionpresentation; (c) ability to receive user commands generated by aninfrared remote control device, keyboard or other device; (d) ability torespond to the user commands by displaying appropriate content orexecuting desired functionality; and, (e) ability to generate andcollect data regarding the user sessions and the viewing data regardingconsumer-generated content on the interactive television system and makethis data accessible to the Tracking System. The VOD Content DeliverySystem can employ templatized VOD content delivery, as describedpreviously with respect to FIG. IA, enabling use of the Drill DownNavigation method in which viewers can navigate visually throughclassified ad hierarchical categories to specific titles or content.

The VOD Content Delivery System for the Classified Ads application canalso employ the Tracking System 15 for the collection and consolidationof viewing data generated by the interactive television system and thegeneration of reports against this viewing data. For example, theTracking System can track the number of viewer requests for viewing thata classified ad received in a given period and calculate billing chargesaccordingly. The Tracking System can make this information available tousers of the Content Management System as well as to systemadministrative personnel performing general analysis of interactivetelevision services and associated content. Significant features of theTracking System include: (a) ability to access and process the datagenerated by the Classified Ads application; (b) ability to formsummaries of the viewing data against desired parameters; (c) ability tosave data, summaries and reports in persistent memory or storage forsubsequent modification or access; (d) ability to make data, summariesand reports accessible by users of the web-based Content ManagementSystem, restricting the data accessible by any specific user to dataregarding the content created by that user account on the ContentManagement System; and, (e) ability to make data, summaries and reportsaccessible by to system administration personnel.

It is understood that many modifications and variations may be devisedgiven the above description of the principles of the invention. It isintended that all such modifications and variations be considered aswithin the spirit and scope of this invention, as defined in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A set-top box, providing video-on-demand servicesand operatively connected to TV equipment of a TV service subscriber,programmed to perform the steps of: (a) receiving, at the set-top box,via a closed system from a video-on-demand content delivery systemcomprising one or more computers and computer-readable memoryoperatively connected to the one or more computers, respectivevideo-on-demand application-readable metadata that is associated withrespective video content and is usable to generate a video-on-demandcontent menu; wherein the respective video content was uploaded to aWeb-based content management system by a respective content providerdevice associated with a respective video content provider via theInternet in a digital video format along with respective specifiedmetadata including respective title information, category information,and subcategory information designated by the respective video contentprovider to specify a respective hierarchical location of a respectivetitle of the respective video content within the video-on-demand contentmenu displayed on the TV equipment, wherein the respectivevideo-on-demand application-readable metadata is generated according tothe respective specified metadata; (b) providing, to the TV subscriberat the set-top box, the video-on-demand content menu for navigatingthrough titles, including the respective titles of the respective videocontent, in a drill-down manner by category information and subcategoryinformation in order to locate a particular one of the titles whoseassociated video content is desired for viewing on the TV equipment,wherein the video-on-demand content menu lists the titles using the samehierarchical structure of respective category information andsubcategory information as was designated by the respective videocontent provider in the respective specified metadata for the respectivevideo content, wherein a plurality of different video display templatesare accessible to the set-top box, and wherein the video-on-demandcontent menu is generated using at least one of the plurality ofdifferent video display templates and based at least upon the respectivespecified metadata; and (c) in response to the TV service subscriberselecting, via a control unit in communication with the set-top box, afirst respective title associated with a first video content from thehierarchical structure of respective category information andsubcategory information of the video-on-demand content menu usingdrill-down navigation, transmitting the selection to the set-top box fordisplay on the TV equipment; and (d) receiving, at the set-top box, thefirst video content for display on the TV equipment of the TV servicesubscriber, wherein in response to the selection the first video contentwas retrieved from a video server associated with the video-on-demandcontent delivery system.
 2. The set-top box of claim 1, wherein thecontrol unit is a remote control unit.
 3. The set-top box of claim 1,wherein the set-top box is programmed to allow the navigation throughtitles in a drill-down manner by navigation from a first level of thehierarchical structure of the video-on-demand content menu to a secondlevel of the hierarchical structure to locate the particular one of thetitles, wherein a first template of the plurality of different videodisplay templates is used for displaying the first level of thehierarchical structure and wherein a second template of the plurality ofdifferent video display templates is used for displaying the secondlevel of the hierarchical structure.
 4. The set-top box of claim 3,wherein the first level of the hierarchical structure in thevideo-on-demand content menu comprises a link to the second level of thehierarchical structure in the video-on-demand content menu.
 5. Theset-top box of claim 1, wherein at least a first video display templateof the plurality of different video display templates is associated withat least the first video content provider.
 6. The set-top box of claim1, wherein some of the plurality of different video display templatescorrespond to different levels of the hierarchical structure ofrespective category information and subcategory information.
 7. Theset-top box of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality ofdifferent video display templates is configured to display a logo frame.8. The set-top box of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the pluralityof different video display templates is configured to provide navigationbuttons.
 9. The set-top box of claim 1, wherein the at least one of theplurality of different video display templates is configured to provideviewer selection options.
 10. The set-top box of claim 1, wherein therespective video-on-demand application-readable metadata furtherincludes descriptive data about the video content.
 11. The set-top boxof claim 1, wherein the respective video-on-demand application-readablemetadata further includes at least one display image associated with thevideo content.
 12. The set-top box of claim 1, wherein the respectivecategory information and subcategory information associated with thefirst video content correspond to one or more topics that pertain tovideo content from more than one content provider.
 13. The set-top boxof claim 1, wherein the set-top box is further programmed to generate,using at least one of the plurality of different video displaytemplates, a templatized video-on-demand display that comprises abackground and a template layer having one or more areas for display ofmetadata provided by the video content provider.
 14. The set-top box ofclaim 1, wherein the set-top box is further programmed to track viewernavigation paths corresponding to the drill-down navigation.
 15. Theset-top box of claim 1, wherein the set-top box is further programmed togenerate the video-on-demand content menu dynamically by retrieving menucontent from a database operatively connected to the video-on-demandcontent delivery system and using the retrieved menu content with the atleast one of the plurality of different video display templates.
 16. Theset-top box of claim 1, wherein the set-top box is further programmed togenerate, by real-time database queries of the respective categoryinformation and subcategory information uploaded by each respectivevideo content provider, the hierarchical structure of categoryinformation and subcategory information in the video-on-demand contentmenu.
 17. The set-top box of claim 1, wherein the video-on-demandcontent menu comprises a search interface that allows the TV subscriberto search a video content database based on specified characteristics.18. The set-top box of claim 1, wherein the video-on-demand content menuis an interactive user interface.
 19. The set-top box of claim 1,wherein the set-top box is further programmed to generate a templatizedvideo-on-demand display that comprises a background screen using atleast one of the plurality of different video display templates.